Charmant first of several new hotels to open in La Crosse
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) -- The Charmant Hotel opened Monday in downtown La Crosse. Housed in the 1898 building that once housed the Joseph B. Funke Candy Company, the new boutique hotel preserves many of the original architectural details.
However, the Charmant is far from the only new hotel coming to the area.
There will soon be plenty of places to stay in La Crosse as four, possibly five, hotels are coming to the area.
In addition to the Charmant, the Hampton Inn on 3rd Street near the Oktoberfest grounds is set to open in November.
The Fairfield Inn and Suites several blocks to the south on 3rd Street will open next spring.
And in the next few weeks, ground will be broken at 2nd and Jay Streets near the La Crosse Center for a Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel.
Dave Clements, Executive Director of Explore La Crosse, estimates that the new hotels will bring about 450 new hotel rooms to the city. That's a 37 percent growth rate for the city, and an 89 percent increase in just the downtown area.
He says the demand for new hotels is there.
“Our hotel occupancies have been very strong the last few years, and in fact, 2014 was one of the best years we've had ever.”
And just last week, Gundersen Health System announced they're exploring options for a possible hotel on their South Avenue campus. While they're still in the preliminary process of working with the city, they say it would be built where the Orange Lot currently sits on 7th Street.
In a statement, Senior Vice President of Gundersen Health System, Mark Platt, said:
"A hotel would allow families quick, easy access to loved ones when they’re having surgery, or receiving treatment for an illness while providing a convenient place to sleep, refresh and gather, especially for those who drive long distances for their care."
La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat says the construction may be a temporary inconvenience but it will be worth it for local businesses.
“When you think about especially some of the major events, the major conventions, people before were having to stay further and further away from downtown in the larger region. Being able to have that inventory of hotel rooms here is going to keep them downtown and obviously that's going to be a big benefit to our bars and restaurants and our stores in downtown La Crosse.”
The new hotels will not only offer new jobs, but it will also bring more people to the community.
“People that have come here have moved their families here from California and Minneapolis and Chicago," said Don Weber, owner of the Charmant Hotel. "They're new to the area. They love La Crosse. It means so much more than just a building, a hotel. It has so much meaning. The new tax base it's creating for the community. It's so many positives.”
Reported by: Weau.com
However, the Charmant is far from the only new hotel coming to the area.
There will soon be plenty of places to stay in La Crosse as four, possibly five, hotels are coming to the area.
In addition to the Charmant, the Hampton Inn on 3rd Street near the Oktoberfest grounds is set to open in November.
The Fairfield Inn and Suites several blocks to the south on 3rd Street will open next spring.
And in the next few weeks, ground will be broken at 2nd and Jay Streets near the La Crosse Center for a Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel.
Dave Clements, Executive Director of Explore La Crosse, estimates that the new hotels will bring about 450 new hotel rooms to the city. That's a 37 percent growth rate for the city, and an 89 percent increase in just the downtown area.
He says the demand for new hotels is there.
“Our hotel occupancies have been very strong the last few years, and in fact, 2014 was one of the best years we've had ever.”
And just last week, Gundersen Health System announced they're exploring options for a possible hotel on their South Avenue campus. While they're still in the preliminary process of working with the city, they say it would be built where the Orange Lot currently sits on 7th Street.
In a statement, Senior Vice President of Gundersen Health System, Mark Platt, said:
"A hotel would allow families quick, easy access to loved ones when they’re having surgery, or receiving treatment for an illness while providing a convenient place to sleep, refresh and gather, especially for those who drive long distances for their care."
La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat says the construction may be a temporary inconvenience but it will be worth it for local businesses.
“When you think about especially some of the major events, the major conventions, people before were having to stay further and further away from downtown in the larger region. Being able to have that inventory of hotel rooms here is going to keep them downtown and obviously that's going to be a big benefit to our bars and restaurants and our stores in downtown La Crosse.”
The new hotels will not only offer new jobs, but it will also bring more people to the community.
“People that have come here have moved their families here from California and Minneapolis and Chicago," said Don Weber, owner of the Charmant Hotel. "They're new to the area. They love La Crosse. It means so much more than just a building, a hotel. It has so much meaning. The new tax base it's creating for the community. It's so many positives.”
Reported by: Weau.com
